Please excuse ANY errors.

December 23, 1998

~Tia's P.O.V~

Irritated and with a slight headache, I went upstairs. I just feel overwhelmed. Being around Yasir tends to have that effect on me. Even though this time it was Donald who took it too far. I just need some alone time. If only I had my sewing machine... After grabbing my notebook, I grabbed my CD player and headset and took a seat on the small couch with my legs underneath my butt. Exhaling, I just began to write a continuation of a scene and /or book. I put my music on medium-high.

After a good forty minutes and three positions later, I saw feet right above my notebook that was sitting on my lap. I diverted my eyes to the pair of feet before my eyes began to scan up toward the face to match those feet. It was Donald of course. He's the only one who would come inside without knocking. Although he probably did. I moved my headphones off of my ears and to my neck. Just when the good part is coming up. Well... Honestly, the whole song is good. Sting is a dope and talented artist.

🎶You're not the easiest person that I ever got to know
And it's hard for us both to let our feelings show
Some would say
I should let you go your way
You'll only make me cry
But if there's one guy, just one guy
Who'd lay down his life for you and die
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me🎶

"Yo behind is really in here listenin' to Sting and ironically, It's Probably Me." He laughed at his own pun before squatting down right in front of me. "Okay, it was me this time. I take full responsibility and I'm sorry for stressing you out like that."

I nodded. "Okay. That's good."

"Damn, that's it?" Donald asked me.

Once again, I nodded. "I get it." I exhaled. "I know how difficult he can be, but you gotta calm down too. I just expected a little more from you than him." I explained. "Yasir has the brain of an idiot... And you- you just have the brain of half an idiot." I held my thumb and index fingers a centimeter apart.

He looked up at me smiling before it turned into a full-blown laugh. Breaking character, I joined him.

"You play too much!" He spoke through his laughter. "What you said about his is true, but me? I don't know 'bout that. Not so sure."

"I'm just playing." I chuckled. "But nahhh. I accept your apology. I don't want any more drama than what's ready going on. Drama on drama on drama. That shit is something I know all too well and it's stressful. It was just an overreaction and it didn't escalate."

He looked up after I said that last part. "I know. I ain't even think before I spoke and... Yeah. I should have." He said not knowing what else to say. "That was petty on my part." He placed his hand on his chest.

The thing is that he doesn't have to say anything else related to that little situation. It wasn't that bad, but it could've escalated quickly which is why I probably should have stayed down there.

"I'm sorry for just walking out like that. I shouldn't have done that either. That was stupid." I told him. "

"We two grown-ass men. If something was to happen it would definitely be on us. Plus, I don't want you jumpin' into any physical altercations I just so happen to get into. Once a fight starts, it's gon' be a while before we stop and I don't want NOTHIN' to happenin' to you."

"I'm not gon' let you and my brother fight, Donald," I told him.

He shook his head from side to side. "No, I know. I just meant with anybody. It was a generalizing statement. I told you that. And just because you don't want somethin' to happen don't mean that it won't happen, but I'll definitely refrain from doin' so. He been a'ight after you told him off and so should I. I promise that I will."

"Okay." I nodded, then looked back down at my notepad, picked up my pencil, and began writing again.

I saw DeVanté sit, then scoot back with his back against the bed from my peripheral vision. My music continued to play around my neck. I've been writing for about eight minutes and for the full duration of that time, I've been feeling his eyes on me. Placing my pen down flat on my lap, I looked ahead at Donald who was sitting with his knees pointed up, legs wide open, and his forearms rested on his knees. I placed my pencil back down before speaking.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"Nothin'." He smiled shaking his head.

"You sitting there just staring. You sure you good?" I said making sure.

"I'm good. I promise you that I am." He spoke then lifted his wrist to look at his watch. "My shit feels fucked up." He said referring to his hair.

"As usual!" I laughed.

"Now see... Pac ain't here, don't jack his style," He chuckled.

"What style? That was included in his movie script."

"Right. Can you do my hair? I don't know what to do with it right now."

"Get the jam, comb, brush, and rubber bands," I told him.

"A'ight." Donald left my room and went to his through the bathroom.

I got up and put my things away in the drawer, then slid my pants down my legs, before folding them and putting them on the bed. Donald came back inside with everything we needed just as I was about to take a seat.

"Babe, what the hell are you doin'?" His head jerked back. "You supposed to be doin' my hair not strippin'."

"I AM not about to get these WHITE bell bottoms dirty. Took me a while to figure out what I was gon' wear."

"Ain't nothin' new. You ALWAYS take all day to get dressed." He laughed, taking a seat on the floor, between my legs.

"Negro, so do you. Take long as hell." I laughed.

"You still take long as hell." He chuckled.

"I'm a woman. We generally take longer."

"Says who? I'm happy as hell that you don't know how to do makeup or that shit would be way longer." He said looking up at me. "Tell me somethin'."

"What?" I said taking down his ponytail.

One thing about him is that he is kind of rough on his head. He got his hair done before we left and had to take it down the day after Christmas.

"What is it that you do when you get ready? Like... Can you tell me step by step because I'm curious?"

"You forever curious. That and you know what I'm sayin' are your favorite lines." I told him. "What I do is make sure I smell and look good. It takes a long time to find the right outfit that I feel my best in. Then my hair... I'm natural and if it ain't braided or twisted up already it takes a long time to figure out what hairstyle I want or what's more appropriate for the occasion or looks best with the outfit I chose."

"That's it?" He asked me.

"Just about."

"All you gotta do is throw yo hair in a ponytail or few." He replied.

"That's what YOU do. That ain't my style and you know how much I hate one ponytail. Puts too much tension on my head and gives me headaches no matter how loose it is." I said massaging his scalp. "More than two ain't for me either."

"Well, I THINK you just bein' dramatic as ALWAYS." He laughed. "Dramatic ass."

I gripped his hair into a ponytail. "You're saying that because you don't know the feeling. You can't understand."

"I understand a lot of shit that I ain't been through but only because you explained it. You and I both know that." He replied.

"In this case, you can't. THIS is exactly how it feels." I said holding his hair into a tight ponytail. " Now tell me Donald, is THIS bein' dramatic?" I questioned.

"That shit hurt!" He yelled at me and I let go. "I ain't say I wanted to feel it." He said turning to me.

"I just showing you how dramatic I can be." I chuckled. "How do you want your hair?"

"It doesn't even matter as long as it's done for a few days or even a couple will do." He replied.

"A'ight," I replied to him, parting his hair. "One strand or two stand flat twist?" I asked him because I can't french braid worth crap and this is the only other long-lasting style that I can do.

"Two."

"Two or four flat twists?" I questioned.

He turned to look at me. "Turn your head to the side for me."

I did what he said and felt his finger in my ear, then quickly pulled away. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to figure out if something was blocking your ears or some shit. Maybe somethin' crawled in it. I told you I don't really care what you do. Just as long as it looks good and last."

"As long as it lasts? The opposite of you?" I hinted.

"Don't come at my neck like that like you wasn't doin' what you was doin' to contribute to it." He replied.

I laughed under my breath, continuing to do his hair.

"Six it is," I replied. "Two in the front and two in the back."

"Wait, wait, wait. That wasn't even an option. You said two or four, how did we end up with six?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I thought you ain't care?" I asked him with a smirk.

"I don't but... Do whatever you like to me." He said turning back around.

"You sound so... Dirty. But let me work my magic."

"You goin' all out for this occasion, huh? Bell bottoms for skatin'? Are we in the nineties or sixties? Old ass shits." He laughed.

"You actin' like you weren't born in the sixties. If they are old, then so are you. You were born in the sixties."

"That ain't that long ago. And CORRECTION: I was born in the LATE sixties." He shot back.

"Sixties nevertheless." I laughed.

"With you not too far after." He spoke, lifting my thigh onto his shoulder. "My neck hurt. Got damned. Got me leaned over. Want me to have a crook in my neck?"

"Want me to ask Ashari for some hairballs when I'm through to put on your head?" I asked him. Then I felt him bite a part of my thigh and I yelped from the unexpected feeling. "Did you just bite me?"

"I sure did. You are always in some slick shit. I pulled you out on you. How does it feel Tia?" He laughed.

"Actually, it didn't hurt. Just unexpected. Out of reflex I probably would've done something."

"You know I can do better than that. I just ain't wanna hurt you. You know what these teeth are capable of." He cracked. "Fingers don't stand a chance with these teeth."

"Donald! No, you didn't!" I threw my head laughing. "Donna piranha. I should do your edges. You know slick 'em down?"

"Tia, I wish the fuck you would." His voice held amusement. "My skin tone already holds a lot of stigmas. I'll be DAMNED."

"But you ain't weak or soft as people like to call it. Though, you DO have a soft side. Balanced. People gon' think what they think regardless. What is that makes you take so long to get ready?"

"I mind my business." He looked at me.

"And don't forget mines too," I responded. "Nosy ass."

"Oh, I know. You know what I be doin', Tia."

"I really don't. Lemme take a wild guess though. Scratching yo ass so you ain't gotta do it in public?" I poked my lips out.

He rose his hand up to my face, still facing forward and away from me, feeling all on my face. Out of instinct, I moved my head back. I don't like my face being touched like that because of its sensitivity and not knowing if he washed his hands or not.

"What you doin'?" I frowned.

"Just givin' you an up close and personal whiff of my ass." He laughed and something actually fell on my lip as it was over my lip.

I jumped up and with pursed lips, I spoke. "DeVanté!"

I stepped over him, ran across the bed, and I to the bathroom to wash my face and lips.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I heard Donald ask me just as I lifted up my head from the sink. My eyes burned from the jam from my hands getting into my eyes. "Shit!" I mumbled to myself squeezing my eyes together and washing my hands. "You for real?"

Afterward, I washed my face off with face wash and rinsed it. The only problem is that I don't have a towel to pat my face dry. I turned the nozzle with my elbow, then I felt him beside me.

"Here." He said handing me a towel.

"Thank you." I patted dry.

"What happened?" He asked again.

"Somethin' fell on my fuckin' lip from your finger."

"Ass crumbs perhaps?" He replied laughing.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Psych!" He laughed. "Why would-" He continued to laugh uncontrollably. "It was- it had to be somethin' from the floor which I was touchin'. Bae, you so fuckin' dramatic."

"I am not bein' dramatic." I frowned. "You KNOW that I hate people touc- you ain't even wash yo hands when you came in here or at least before you touched all on my face."

"My bad. Damn. It was just supposed to be a harmless joke. I'm sorry. And yes, I should've washed my hands when I came in. I forgot."

"It- it's fine. You're good. You didn't mean for that to happen." I exhaled. "Let me just finish doing your hair."

"Please! You got me lookin' like the Cynthia doll." He chuckled turning on the water and washing his hands.

"Don't do me. The whole front is done. Now I just need to do the back." I smiled handing him the towel.

"Ewww, ion want yo dirty ass face germs on clean hands." He joked taking the towel and then drying his hands. "Unlike YOU, I don't mind. It's cool though." He smiled. "Don't let your germaphobe shit get the best of you. You just gotta enjoy yourself."

"Somethin' was on my LIP." I enunciated.

"I mean in general." He rested his chin on my shoulder.

"I don't let it ruin my fun. I'm still able to have fun despite the fact." I replied.

"But at what cost?" He questioned. "Not fully if it ain't germs, it's you worryin' if shit will go right."

"Only if I'm in charge of things."

"And when are you not?" He raised his eyebrow at me with a smirk. "Think about it."

"I'm- you got a comeback for everything, huh DeGrate?" I chuckled.

"It's not a comeback, it's just the truth." He shrugged, then pecked my lips. He then backed away. "We gotta go in a lil bit so..."

I nodded at his hint and walked into the room with him behind me. "You sit there in the bed so I can finish your hair. I don't want you to be all uncomfortable."

I moved all the needed things into his bed.

"A'ight. You sure your back will be okay?" He asked me.

"I'm fine. Go ahead and take a seat, babe." I instructed.

He sat down with his head bent forward, while I stood finishing his hair. When his neck got tired, he pulled me closer by the waist and rested the top of his head on me. I lifted my right leg up with my foot between his legs so he could rest his head on my thigh.

"Thank you! My neck is tired as fuck." He breathed out.

"I think it's your neck tryna tell you how big your head is." I laughed. "My leg wobblin' and shit trying to hold it up."

"You gotta dirty ass mouth. I can smell it all the way down here or it is something else I'm smellin'?"

"Well, if it's somethin' else, you'd be the even dirtier one for always tryna put your face between that something else."

"I'm- I'm okay with that." He replied.

Then we both burst out laughing. "Don't play with me, Donald!"

"Too late."

"Don't forget who's holding a comb which can also be a weapon." I wiggled my eyebrow. "Turn me into a black auntie and pop your head." I joked. "No, I wouldn't."

"We both know you don't stank. My fucking face wouldn't be right here or ever near this area if it had. You know imma tell yo ass if it's somethin' as serious as this." He said being serious. "Probably wouldn't be together."

"Negro, I wouldn't know because it has never happened. And you are right, hygiene is a deal breaker. Hygiene, cheating, and abusiveness."

"Damn, then we should've been broken up. You beat my ass all the damn time!" He laughed.

"I do not!" I rolled my eyes, laughing.

"Okay, but you thought about it?"

"With this comb, if you don't stop moving!" I chuckled.

"I wish you would." He said tickling my stomach.

"Babe, STOP!" I said through laughter. "Y- yyooo- you gon' make m-me-" I let go of his hair, shielding my stomach from him.

Finally able to speak, I told him, "Now I gotta start this one over. It's probably loose now."

"A'ight. We gotta hurry up and get ready. Especially YOU, since you probably gon' find a WHOLE 'nother outfit since yo shirt messed up." He pointed out.

"DON'T mess with me on this last one. One of your brothers will probably be up here any minute now wondering when we gon' leave." I told him, walking closer.

Donald smiled at me. "I ain't gon' try to not try nothin'." He nodded. "They probably don't even care and doin' they own thing. Take your time because I don't want my hair messed up.

"You aren't going to try anything? Good." I co-signed placing my leg in between his again.

He leaned down and rested his forehead on my thigh. I began finishing the last flat twist and when I finished, I sighed in relief.

Donald lifted his head up. "What? You done?"

I nodded my head, yes. "Yes, now all we need are a few barrettes and put you a few swoops for edges and you're good," I spoke.

He squinted at me, shaking his head. "Say somethin' else."

"Am I supposed to be SCARED?" I tilted my head to the side, my lips poked out and my right eyebrow rose.

He grabbed my legs that were propped up between his and in an attempt to get away from him, I brought my other leg up over his shoulder but fell behind him. Donald still managed to hold into my leg, turned over then flipped me over tickling me so hard with both hands.

"Don- ahhhh!" I laughed hard kicking my legs up.

"Who's Donnahhh?" He said not stopping. "Hmm? Who thee hell is Donna, Tia?"

Finding the strength to lift my leg up, I did just that. I lifted it all the way to his shoulder and flipped us both over.

"You said you wouldn't try it again."

"No, I didn't. I SAID I would try to NOT try nothin'. LISTEN." Donald enunciated. "On the other hand-" He sat up and I placed my leg that was over his shoulder on the outside of his body. "Please try that again later on in our life, but in different circumstances. That was- that was..." He trailed off not knowing what to say.

I looked off to the side hen at him. "Perhaps." I smiled resting my arms on his shoulders.

"That's yo favorite word." He replied. "You said the same thing about pole dancing. It never happened."

I pointed to my ring finger. "It's still bare."

Looking away from where I was pointing, Donald looked me in the eyes. "I know and imma fix that one day. When you say a ring, do you mean like... A promise ring, right?" His facial expression is so serious and so was his tone.

I rolled my eyes deeply at him, pulling back from him with folded arms. "Oh, my gosh Donald. We talked about this. We are too damn old for a damn promise ring. Dudes mostly be doin' that to mess to string women along and promising them shit they should've been doin' in they relationship. And being strung along, THIS woman will NOT." I scoffed. "Got me ALL the way bent."

"I know!" He laughed. "I'm just playin'. Damn." I stared at him, silently as his veins popped out of his forehead from laughing. "I know you're not mad?" He asked me.

"I'm not mad." I shook my head. "That just pissed me off, I'm still getting unpissed off. I'm also just letting you KNOW. You got me riled up." I chuckled.

"See now you just makin' up yo own damn words." He cracked. "Unpissed? I pissed in the toilet earlier, but now imma unpiss in it." My resting bitch face turned into a smile. "You see how much my statement pissed you off and yours sound so stupid? Except I was just jokin'. You went kinda projects on my ass. This ain't B.A.P.S, babe."

"You said unpiss and I said unpissed. Big diff-" He smashed his lips against mine, silencing me.

I pulled away from him with a smack. "You better stop before my man comes in here and see us."

"Fuck that nigga gon do? Beat me up?" Donald asked. "Fuck that nigga. His weak ass ain't gon' do shit."

"He might."

"But if I get my ass beat would you jump between us?" He asked.

"Hell nahhh! Y'all two men can handle that mess. Imma have to watch y'all duke it out." I shook my head.

"What? So you 'a watch me and/or yo man get our ass beat?"

"Mmhm. What do I, a woman, look like jumping between two men fightin' over ME?" I placed my hand on my chest. "Men do it all the time. Watch women fight over them." There was a knock on the door. "Oops! That might be him." I said getting off of his lap.

Donald yelled. "Who is it?"

"It's me! Dalvin, man!" Dalvin replied.

"Oh, it's just his brother. You still might get yo ass handed to you though if he catches us." I said grabbing my pants.

Donald laughed with his fist in front of his mouth. "Hell nahh! You must be crazy as hell to think some shit like that."

Once I was out of the area of the opening, Donald opened the door.

"Glad to see that you knocked this time for the first time we've been here," Donald said clapping his hands with his foot behind the door to keep it from opening further.

"Nigga, I knocked on her door plenty of times. I only OPEN your door." Dalvin replied. "We ready. What took you so long?"

"My hair. It's my fault she ain't ready and I ain't leavin' my woman." Donald replied.

"Ain't nobody said that and you look... Somewhat better. Don't get it twisted." I joked.

Donald laughed at him, closing the door. "They ready. You gotta hurry up. Imma be with them. A'ight?"

"Yeah." I nodded standing in front of the doorway of the bathroom. "And babe?"

"Hm?" He stood in the doorway.

"You're not ugly. You look good either way." I told him because after saying that, even though it was a joke, I feel bad and don't want him to seriously think that. "Just don't tell my man I told you that."

"A'ight. I know I look good. And you know I do too. That didn't affect me." He replied to me and then yelled at Dalvin who was banging on the door. "A'ight, DAMN!" He said opening the door then walking out of it, and closing it behind him.

I went into the closet in my room to find a shirt to go with my bell bottoms. Once I was ready, I grabbed some skates that I brought from the store the other day and left out of the room. Call me Boujee, but I am not wearing anybody's funky-ass, sweaty-ass, fungus-infested-ass shoes. That includes bowling too because all of these places aren't as clean as we think.

I called Donald's cell phone because I want to know if they were all the way downstairs or just below this floor. If they are all the way downstairs, I'm THINKING about taking the elevator. No, never mind. I am not about to get on there especially alone. However, I do want to know so I won't waste my time looking through the rooms.

"Aye, can y'all- forget it!" Donald spoke into the phone and the noise in the background got lower. "I'm on my way upstairs. What's up?"

"Well, I'm on my way down. Why are you coming up?"

Hearing his footsteps on the other end, he replied. "To get you."

"No, I'm on my way down so we can go. Where are y'all?" I asked him. "I don't want to be walking all around the house searching like your behind."

"By the door." He replied. "I'm still on my way. Bye, I love you!" I heard him on the phone and from the stairs and he hung up.

Just as I began stepping down to the third stair, Donald's head popped up and I saw him stepping up this flight of stairs.

"Let's take the elevator down. I'm ti'ed boss." He exhaled somewhat out of breath.

Throwing my head back, I replied. "Babe, that's EXACTLY what I wanted to avoid. It's too small and it moves."

"But you ain't dramatic?" He questioned "Not to mention you small obsession with 

"No, I'm scared, not dramatic. This is a house elevator, so it's smaller than a regular one. I'm scared and I don't like these or escalators."

"You have every right to be. It ain't like you ain't been in one plenty of times."

"But not this one?" I reminded him. "One time."

"One time is all it takes." He shrugged. "Come, please? For me? Ain't shit finna happen. I just don't wanna go back down all them damn stairs."

"I told you not to come up with them in the first place, Donald. I was on my way down."

"Okay... That's fair, but- BUT you said that as I was ALREADY on my way down. C'mon, face your fears. I got you."

"Okay, but if it breaks down and we have to turn into The Donner Party in this piece, you gettin' ate first." I pointed while walking closer and he laughed. Donald grabbed my hand, pulling me in front of him, holding me against him with his face in my neck. Once we were inside and he pressed the button, I spoke again as a distraction. "Nope, knowing you, it'll probably be me to get ate first. Remind me, this is scary."

The elevator door closed and began moving. This elevator stuff will never get old. My butthole has moved up to my stomach and my stomach is in my chest. At this point, I'm just speaking just to speak.

"Babe, sometimes you just gotta face ya fears. I was on that flight for how many hours?" He raised his eyebrows. "And this is just a few min- no, not even minutes just seconds, Tia." He said holding onto me.

"Okay, Don," I said standing in the corner with my arms folded.

"You know what I like?" Donald asked me as our elevator stopped.

"Lemme guess..." I looked at the corner of my eyes wiggling my eyebrows.

He licked his lips. "Pause! Hold that thought, I look as if you finna say some slick ass shit..." He chuckled. "What I was finna say is that I like seein' you happy. Your excitement is exciting."

"Really? I mean, you clearly love seeing me happy, but my excitement is exciting?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Yeah." He nodded. "Your high-ass energy just balances out my chillness. I said it before." He turned my head to the side and kissed my lips.

The elevator opened and all I heard was gagging. It was Dalvin pretending like he was going to throw up. "Excuse me." He said walking away, covering his ear.

"They kissin'!" Darnell shouted.

"He gon' get her pregnant." Dery shook his head at us. "And y'all not even married." He shook his head disapproving. "Grampa said no kids until marriage."

Derek, Donald, and I began laughing. "Your parents aren't even married and got y'all," Donald replied.

"That's right. Tell them kissing get you pregnant." Dalvin told them.

"Ooh, then you must got a lot of kids Uncle Dalvin by a lot of women," Dery told him. "I saw you kiss too many women."

"Oop!" I rushed off the elevator.

"These kids, man." Dalvin shook his head.

"I know. Too grown." Donald said laughing. "And what you was gaggin' for?" He asked Dalvin. "And you covered your ears."

"The crust on y'all's lips was just bothering me. The sound of y'all lips rubbing up against each other is ew and the view ain't that cute." He scrunched his nose up.

"Finest couple up in this joint," Donald told him.

"And that'll be us." Derek and Maria raised their hands.

"Alright." Donald nodded. "Babe, I never told you this, but Derek has a delusion disorder as you can see."

"De is projectin'," Maria said aloud. "As usual."

"The parents back yet?" Donald questioned.

"Nope, they should be comin' though," Dalvin replied.

"Let me get this straight... You called us down here, KNOWIN' the kids stayin' here with them?" Donald questioned. "You so backwards." He shook his head at his brother. "Well, that's they kids."

"We're waitin' on them to come back though," Derek told us.

"So, now what?" Donald asked them.

"Simple, WE waitin'. I don't know why Dalvin called y'all down here." Derek shrugged.

"We decided on going to visit the Catacombs instead," Dalvin replied.

"Catacombs?" Donald questioned. "Y'all just changed plans?"

"Yup." Derek cosigned.

"Cool, I guess." Donald shrugged.

"I thought you'd be against it because I sure as hell don't want to go. It's just a bunch of skeletons." Maria blinked rapidly.

"Ooh." I smiled. "Lemme go change into something warmer!" I ran back up the stairs. "I need my gym shoes for this. I suggest y'all do the same!"

"Y'all feeding her with this horror stuff." I heard Donald tell them. "I'm goin' to get my camera. This will probably be funny."

"It's not horror, babe. It's historical. I just hope we're able to do it." I replied as he followed me up the stairs.

~Daryl's P.O.V~

"Can y'all watch the kids?" Ashari asked my wife and me.

"Yasir here, ain't he?" I asked her. "Can't he watch his kids since he here? Make him useful for at least that." I told her.

Ashari gave a hesitant look and glanced at my wife. "He probably doesn't want to."

"Want to? Them HIS kids." I emphasized.

"I'm sure Yasir doesn't mind." My wife replied. "He SHOULDN'T because I ain't raisin' no deadbeat kids. I'm goin' down there to ask him myself." My wife walked off.

"You don't trust him or somethin'?" I tilted my head forward with my eyebrows raised. "He hasn't done anything to the kids has he?"

"He's... Yasir is a little- no, I don't trust him with the kids." She finally answered.

"Why? What did he do to them?" I asked her, worried.

"He just speaks I'll of me around my kids and Masir picks up on that and repeats things. Things like callin' me out my name." She revealed. "Masir does the same thing."

"I ain't never heard him-"

"It's because he doesn't do it around y'all." She told me. "Masir is a handful and I don't want him pickin' up on other stuff. Yasir sees and hears that mess and entertains it. He laugh-"

Yasir's voice rang throughout the room. "Why would you tell my mama that I don't wanna watch my kids? You KNOW I'm ALWAYS open to havin' my kids. That's some messed up and false stuff you just throwin' out there."

"I didn't say that. I said that you MAY NOT want to watch my kids." Ashari told him.

"Where YOU goin'?" Yasir questioned her.

"Why? Why does it matter where I'm goin'? Why are YOU so concerned? We ain't together." Ashari frowned.

"Because before I keep the kids, I want to know where their mother is goin'. I NEED to KNOW that you comin' BACK." Yasir put a lot of emphases.

"Of course, I'm comin-" Ashari inhaled deeply, "I asked your parents, not you."

"Like I said, where you goin'?" Yasir asked her.

"I'll watch the kids," I replied. "Probably take them to the park or somethin' with the other kids for like an hour."

"Where are you goin'?" Yasir questioned. "On a date? With Dalvin?"

"It's none of your business," Ashari said walking away. "Thanks, Daryl."

"I don't think I should have to watch no kids if you goin' on some date with no other dude. That means I'm helpin' YOU out. Why would I do that?" Yasir followed her.

"Yasir?" I grabbed his arm. "Did you just hear yourself?" I asked him. "She ain't goin' on no date. She leavin' with everybody else- your sister, DeVanté, Derek, and the rest of them."

"So Dalvin? It's a date because they are the only single ones here or supposedly. I'm goin' too." Yasir told me.

"You hear yourself?"

"Clearly, I do." Yasir nodded.

"Aye, watch your mouth. I'm lettin' you KNOW that if you claim to be the great father that you claim to be, then having your kids with you when she needs you to, shouldn't be a problem." I let him know. "You askin' about her whereabouts has nothin' to do with nothin'. You gotta make this work because whether you know this or not, y'all connected for life through those kids. And I tell you what... You gon keep these kids because me keepin' them is doin' YOU a favor." I squinted at him, tilting my head to the side. "Why would I do that?"

"You just said that you was gon' watch them. Why wouldn't you when you they grandpa?" Yasir asked me.

Walking away, "I said what I said." I replied and went to find Ashari to tell her that Yasir IS keeping his kids.

"You don't understand because you ain't got no kids. I was plannin' on goin' too." Yasir said following behind me.

I turned around to face him, "by your means, that would mean that I don't have ANY grandkids and that I don't have to do any of the shit you or anybody ask me to do, right?"

"That's a fucked up way to think, Daryl. It ain't right."

My head jerked back, he didn't take me by surprise, but still. "Me- get away from me and get your kids," I told him walking away before I lay hands on him.

"Mama!?" Yasir yelled through the house.

"Here he goes..." I mumbled to myself as he sped past me.

I followed to see Ashari and my wife speaking. "Can you watch MY kids?" Yasir asked my wife.

My wife looked at me, "no." She replied.

"But- but you just said that you was gon' watch them." Ashari's voice changed octaves.

"I changed my mind. He said him watchin' his kids is helpin' you and he doesn't want that. Me doin' the same would be helpin' him." I told Ashari.

"I was plannin' on goin' with them though," Yasir voice hithed, then turned back to his regular voice. "Mama, please?"

"No," my wife replied standing firm.

"Thank you," I told my wife, then looked at Yasir. "The thing is that you claimed one of the reasons you're here is to see your children and I've ONLY seen you ONCE with them. Plus, how you gon' go with them and don't know where they goin'?" I asked him.

"Now's your chance, Yasir." My wife replied. "Live up to your words and take care of your children." She cleared her throat. "Even if that means you can't go anywhere. As a single mother, raising you and your sister, I had to sacrifice my wants and needs to cater to you y'all's and make sure y'all had the best childhood."

I saw Ashari roll her eyes and shake her head near the end of my wife's statement.

"What do you think she's been havin' to do?" I pointed to Ashari, asking Yasir.

"That's her fault. She ended things and ran off."

"Why'd I do that?" Ashari asked him. "Because you weren't livin' up to your role, THAT'S why. You didn't help with ANYTHING and there's plenty more that I could say, but I gotta go." Ashari's walked away.

I followed her and stopped her once we were further away. "Ash, I will keep my eye on them, but Yasir is going to have them. He needs to learn that this ain't easy."

Word Count: 6,355

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